Apparently if your band signs to Stormspell, you'd better plan to be productive. California's Ancient Empire are already on album four since 2014 with 2018's Eternal Soldier. After the galloping, Iron Maiden-inspired music of Other World and The Tower, Ancient Empire have turned in a more epic, US metal direction with Eternal Soldier. The production is a little more expansive and the songwriting focused more on big riffs that hang in the air like storm clouds versus the tornadic style of previous efforts. As a whole, it didn't hit me at first but that's because the vocal lines and music are subtly more intricate and the nuances less obvious. I still like the straightforward ass-kicking of "Time Itself" but I can appreciate the moodier stuff like "Upon this Withered Earth" as well. I am happy Ancient Empire tried something different and happier that it worked as well as it did. Fans of very early Warlord, Chastain and Omen should be checking this out ASAP.